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Charlie Austin’s future needs resolving sooner rather than later to avoid the same scenario that left us short of strikers last year when Loic Remy left close to the transfer window ending.

Only Tony Fernandes and Harry Redknapp thought Remy would still be at the club post transfer window after a move to Liverpool fell through. The player had ambitions beyond our club and soon left to join our neighbours Chelsea, which left us short up front and leaving Austin to carry the burden.

It’s starting to look like history could repeat itself as Austin’s future is yet to be resolved as we hold out for a fee other clubs are as yet unwilling to pay.

The majority of the Premier League have been linked with the man who scored 18 goals last season in a side that finished rock bottom. His form rightly earned him an England call up and if he didn’t have just a year remaining on his contract would surely be fetching a value pushing closer to £20million at least.

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Especially when you put into consideration how much the likes of less prolific strikers Andy Carroll and Mario Balotelli have cost in recent years.

I never thought I’d see Austin in a QPR shirt ever again once the season ended but there he was in pre-season donning in the blue and white, but for how much longer?

I’d love it if no clubs paid the £15million asking price and he stayed beyond the transfer window at least but I’m a realist and it’s only a matter of time before he makes a move. After what he achieved last season he deserves to continue his career in the top flight and show it wasn’t a one off.

Charlie Austin deserved his England call up after 18 goals for QPR last season (Picture: Reuters)

The important thing is we get the best deal but far more important is the timing of the deal and the consequences of it. We saw how short we were once Remy went and we don’t want to be in that position again.

Do the club have any contingencies for a replacement or are they hopeful he won’t go?

If it’s the former there’s a slight chance it could happen, but come nearer the window closing it would be typical QPR to accept a lower bid without a plan b.

Jordon Rhodes is open to a move and should be someone we are looking at ourselves as a replacement; although the rumoured fee is way too close to what Austin is up for grabs for.

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As we’ve seen in our past promotions from the Championship you need at least one striker capable of 20 goals in a season.

The only one at the club that is capable of that wasn’t expected to be here right now and the club can’t take it for granted he’ll be here in September, otherwise we’ll be making the same mistakes all over again.